Greenland Paddle

Anybody knows me is aware that I am totally lacking in any practical skills. My belief is that it is important to keep the artisan in work. So it was much to everyone’s surprise and some people’s disbelief that I decided to make a Greenland paddle.
Embarking on this journey I was completely thrown into unknown waters. I had managed to reach the ripe old of 60 and had never bought any wood in my life. It was with some trepidation that I entered the the timber yard and casually ordered two pieces of red cedar, as if it was something I did almost every day. The reality is that I wouldn’t have recognised cedar if it had hit me in the face.
One of the advantages of making your own paddle is cost. Wood for two paddles cost £20 whereas commercially produced paddles are generally in the region of £200 or slightly higher. The only problem is that I didn’t have any tools at all to work with so buying the necessary items cost just over £200. So I have to make a few paddles if there is to be any return on the investment.
If you decide to make your own Greenland paddle there is plenty support out there. I have used the really useful film that Matt Johnson has put on YouTube. Use the film in conjunction with the PDF written by Chuck Holst and available for download from Qajaq USA.
It has been a fascinating journey so far and my progress has certainly surprised some members of my family.

No power tools for me just a good old fashion saw. It was fascinating how the sawing improved as the afternoon wore on. Once I started with the saw there was no turning back. I will either have a Greenland paddle or some expensive firewood!Markings which indicate how the shaft will emerge.Markings for the end of the blade. The rounded edges were produced using a dinner plate.Quite amazingly a paddle shape is starting to emerge. A hand plane will be used to smooth the edges.

About Sea Paddler

The Sea Paddler website has been in existence in various forms since 1996. Initially as a site which provide a large amount of information about general sea kayaking. From about 2008 it functioned as a blog and now the aim is to provide a mixture of the two.
The focus was on sea kayaking in Jersey but has expanded into other geographical areas and different activities.

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